Maybe they already have.

“Time to intercept?” he asked, turning from the science station to once more regard the image on the main viewscreen.

Spock replied, “At our present speeds, we should be in visual range in two point seven minutes. Our scans have determined that their weapons and defenses are active.”

“Put them on screen, Mister Sulu,” Kirk said as he stepped down into the command well.

“Aye, sir,” replied the lieutenant, and the image on the viewscreen shifted to show a quartet of angular, arrowhead-shaped Tholian vessels. They were traveling in a diamondlike formation, from which Kirk surmised they could deploy either individually or in pairs in order to bring to bear not only their weapons but also the energy web generators with which the Enterprisealready had firsthand experience.

Without being prompted, Sulu reported, “Deflector shields at full power, sir. All weapons and crews on standby.”

“Thank you, helm,” Kirk said. “Lieutenant Uhura, open a hailing frequency to the Tholian ships.” Looking over his shoulder, he saw the communications officer tapping instructions to her console with her right hand, the other holding a Feinberg receiver to her left ear.

“Frequency open, sir.”

With his back to the helm and navigation stations, Kirk placed his hands behind him and used them to brace himself against the console. He drew a deep breath before announcing, “Tholian vessels, this is Captain James T. Kirk, commanding the Federation Starship Enterprise.Our sensors have detected your approach course and that you have armed your weapons. This is an act of aggression and we are prepared to defend ourselves. Please state the nature of your presence in this area.”

After a moment, Uhura said, “No response, Captain, though they are receiving.”

“As talkative as ever,” added Ensign Chekov from where he sat behind Kirk.

Considering his next move, Kirk regarded the enemy ships, which were growing larger on the screen with each passing moment. “Tholian vessels, we also detected your transit toward our starbase in this region. If you’re planning an attack against it, I’d caution you that such action is unwise. Your four ships would stand little chance against the station’s defenses.”

“Trying to goad them a bit, sir?” Scott asked from where he stood at the railing near his engineering station.

Kirk shrugged. “Can’t hurt.”

“Captain,” Spock said, and when Kirk looked to the science station he saw the Vulcan bent over his sensor viewer. “They are accelerating.”

“They’re breaking formation!” called Sulu, and Kirk was in time to see the quartet of ships each veering off in different directions.

Pushing himself away from the helm console, Kirk moved for his chair. “Lock photon torpedoes on targets and stand by for my command.” He caught Scott eyeing him as he settled into the center seat. “I guess it worked.”

“Looks that way, sir,” the engineer replied before returning his attention to his own station.

Spock peered into his sensor viewer. “They appear to be attempting an enveloping maneuver using four different attack vectors.”

“That’ll be a neat trick at warp seven,” Scott said.

Leaning forward in his seat, Kirk ordered, “Push it to warp eight.”

“Aye,” Scott replied, and the captain noted the hint of uncertainty in the man’s voice. Kirk could sympathize, as the Enterprisehad endured much travel at its maximum speeds in recent weeks while responding to the demands placed upon its captain and crew. The chief engineer had requested a quick layover at a starbase at the earliest opportunity, wanting a chance to inspect the ship’s innards and complete any necessary maintenance tasks, but operational tempo had so far prevented that. Despite the need to return to Starbase 47 as soon as possible, Kirk had deferred to Scott’s recommendation that they not exceed warp seven unless absolutely necessary. Though Kirk was now forced to invoke that exception, he still had full confidence in Scott’s ability to keep the ship in top operating condition.

Just so long as nobody shoots it out from under us.

A faint but noticeable vibration working its way up through the deck plates, along his chair’s pedestal, and into his boots was Kirk’s first indication that the ship was increasing speed in response to his command. Glancing over Sulu’s shoulder at the helm console, he noted the Enterprise’s current velocity as reported on one of the station’s status indicators.

“Warp eight, sir,” Sulu reported.

“The Tholians are accelerating to pursue,” Spock said, turning from his console. “They are matching our speed.”

Not wanting a replay of the Tholians’ recent chase of the Endeavourand the Sagittariusout of the Iremal Cluster, Kirk ordered, “Tactical plot on main viewer.” A computer-generated schematic appeared on the viewscreen, illustrating the Enterprise’s current position relative to the Tholian ships. Using the data presented, Kirk considered the strategic options available to him. Though he knew from his review of the Tholians’ tactical abilities that his ship likely could withstand an attack even from four warships, a prolonged firefight definitely would favor his opponents. His best move was to put the Tholians on the defensive by any means available. The longer he waited, the fewer choices would remain. The time to act was now. “Fire a warning shot, Mister Chekov. One photon torpedo across the bow of the ship to our starboard side, aft.”

The young ensign nodded, keying the proper instructions to his console. “Aye, sir. Firing.”

On the viewscreen, the tactical diagram displayed the trajectory of the torpedo toward its target, and the response was immediate as the Tholian vessel veered away from its pursuit course. At the same time, the other three ships also changed their directions, and Kirk knew what was happening even before the report came.

“Incoming fire!” Sulu exclaimed.

“Brace for impact!” was all Kirk had time to say, gripping the arms of his chair as something struck the Enterprise’s deflector shields and the ship shuddered around him. Overhead lighting blinked and alarm klaxons wailed around the bridge as the shields absorbed the strike. Two more salvos followed in rapid succession, each blocked by the shields but still powerful enough to channel a portion of their energy into the ship itself.

“Deflectors holding,” Scott reported, “but they won’t for long if our friends keep that up.”

Kirk nodded. “Return fire, all banks!”

As the barrage of torpedoes was launched, the tactical plot showed the Tholian ships’ attempting to respond to the weapons, but Kirk knew that evasive maneuvers at this speed were all but useless.

“Hits on all four ships,” Sulu said, his attention divided between his controls and the tactical scanner that he had brought up from his console. “Their shields absorbed most of the damage, though.” A second later, the Enterpriseshuddered yet again as the Tholians scored their own hits on the starship’s shields.

Rising from his chair, Kirk moved to stand behind Chekov. “Continue firing. Concentrate on their forward shields. Don’t give them a chance to shore up their defenses.” He had no interest in destroying the enemy vessels unless left with no other option, but if one or two of the ships could be disabled, perhaps the others would be persuaded to break off their attack. “Scotty, how are the shields?”

The engineer replied, “We’re down to seventy-six percent on the aft and port generators. I can up that a bit if we reroute.”

“Do it,” Kirk ordered. “Take everything from the forward shields if you have to. I don’t plan on letting them get in front of us.” His plan was simple: keep the Enterprisemoving forward and force the Tholians to match its speed, and hammer their forward shields until something punched through . . .